YouTube creator SpawnWave was the source of Resident Evil 3 rumors in late November and then an update to the PlayStation Network gave us our first peek at Resident Evil 3 cover art. None the less, when Capcom finally announced RE:3, the developer still gave us plenty of new information to catch up on. From gameplay to character redesigns, here's everything we know about Resident Evil 3: Nemesis so far.
Resident Evil 3 Remake Trailers and Story
Two trailers inititally came out for Resident Evil 3: The announcement trailer and the Special Developer Message video which we discuss more thoroughly in the gameplay and character redesign sections of this article found below.The announcement trailer features protagonist Jill Valentine as she’s pursued by Resident Evil 3's infamous antagonist Nemesis. Created to eliminate members of the Special Tactics And Rescue Service team, more commonly referred to as STARS, Nemesis seems to be making his return in the remake as the creepy mutant stalker that will make you crap your pants.A cameo by UBCS (also known as Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service) member Mikhail Victor is shown, followed by fellow STARS member Brad Vickers. Additional UBCS members Nikolai Zinoviev and Carlos Oliveria also make an appearance in the trailer.
A clip of Jill muttering, “Ugh, my head...” over a running sink along with a few quick flashes of her resembling a decaying zombie is shown near the end, as well.
An additional trailer named the "Nemesis Trailer" came out on January 14 and shows Jill confronted by Nemesis yet again, but this time she's aided by Carlos Oliveira and the other members of the UBCS. We catch our first glimpse of a Hunter enemy along with Nemesis wielding a flamethrower.
Towards the end of the trailer, Nemesis is shown pursuing Jill. She gets into a car accident when she runs into Nemesis and the trailer ends with her laid out on the street after the crash as Nemesis gets up in the background.
What Modes Are in Resident Evil 3 Remake?
In an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine UK, Capcom producer Peter Fabian confirmed Resident Evil 3 does not have a Mercenaries Mode. Instead, it will include an online multiplayer called Resident Evil Resistance.Resident Evil Resistance
Previously announced as Project Resistance, Resident Evil Resistance is a team-based survival horror mode where four survivors face against one "Mastermind". The Mastermind watches and places dangerous obstacles from a control room as the players try to escape the from the map before time runs out.Survivors have skills such as healing, hacking, defense moves, and attacks that they can use to increase their chances of escape.Masterminds also have a few tricks up their sleeve, having the ability to summon zombies, bioweapons, and other mutated creatures based on their background and expertise.
So far, there are four confirmed Masterminds for Resident Evil 3's multiplayer mode — Daniel Fabron, Annette Birkin, Alex Wesker, and Ozwell E. Spencer. Each Mastermind will have a variety of unique traps and skills that can be used in an attempt to trap the players. For example, Wesker will have a plant-based bioweapon called Yateveo, while Ozwell has a Disintegration Field that causes massive damage to Survivors.
Capcom has confirmed two maps will be available in Resistance when RE3 launches in April. One will be centered around an abandoned horror-themed park, while the other takes place inside of a casino. There are likely more maps to come, but so far, this is all we know about.
Read our Project Resistance hands on for our impressions on early gameplay.
When Does Resident Evil 3 Remake Take Place?
According to Capcom producer Peter Fabiano, Resident Evil 3 takes place before and after RE:2 Remake."While Leon and Claire’s stories occur after the city has already been infected for some time, Jill’s story provides a new perspective," Fabiano explained in a PlayStation Blog.
"Starting with the early days of the outbreak, you’ll follow Jill’s fight for survival as the population of the once-lively metropolis turns into hordes of undead."
What is Resident Evil 3 Remake Gameplay Like?
Resident Evil 3 gameplay was first revealed in a video titled Special Developer Message where Capcom producers Peter Fabiano and Masachika Kawata talk through footage of the game.Featuring a redesigned Jill Valentine in an over-the-shoulder view, the gameplay shows her walking through a ravaged Raccoon City. Citizens run frantically by as Jill emerges from an abandoned building saying to herself, “More survivors. We gotta get that train moving.”
She then encounters her first zombie, taking it down swiftly with two shots to the chest.
Unlike the original, Capcom producer Peter Fabiano confirmed that Resident Evil 3 will not have multiple endings. Speaking to IGN, Fabiano said, "The live selections were something that was included in the original RE 3. You know, they didn’t have much development time and there were challenges that they had to face."
"So one of the solutions they came up with to give the game some replayability was to add the live selections. In this case, the director really just wanted to tell a consistent story. And so that’s why we decided to go with the one story with Resident Evil 3."
Resident Evil 3 Demo and Open Beta
The Resident Evil 3 demo became available on March 19 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC and is downloadable for free on your platform's store.In the demo, players will get to experience a "slice of the full game," according to developers. In it, you'll play as Jill Valentine, who is attempting to escape Racoon City. You can check out a few minutes of gameplay from the RE3 demo above.
On the other hand, the Resident Evil 3 Resistance open beta will begin on March 27 and will also be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. In the beta, players will get to try their hand at the 4v1 survival mode to see if they have what it takes to survive the Mastermind's traps.
Resident Evil 3 Remake Characters
Most of the character designs in Resident Evil 3 have been updated from their original version.Jill Valentine
Producers Peter Fabiano and Masachika Kawata explained in their Special Developer Message video that they were happy with how Jill Valentine’s new design came out and that it reflected the Resident Evil 3 remake’s lean towards action.Carlos Oliveria
Carlos Oliveira has been changed to look more “rough around the edges”. The producers said they recreated Carlos with the dire setting of Resident Evil 3 in mind, and the idea that he would be “a reliable ally that Jill could lean on”. Producer Peter Fabiano also confirmed that Carlos will be a playable character and "have his own interesting section to play through" in RE3.Nemesis
Nemesis also received a hefty design change, getting a nose and some very long teeth in the process. The producers said that he will have “more ways than Tyrant from Resident Evil 2 to track down his target Jill Valentine”. Scary!His more realistic appearance was achieved with the use of a technique called photogrammetry, where the developers created a real-life model of Nemesis and scanned it into the game.
In an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine, producer Peter Fabiano talked about what the developers have done to make Nemesis even more terrifying.
Nemesis will feature smarter AI, akin to that of Tyrant in RE2, and will have the ability to freely roam about Raccoon City. He can also use weapons (such as the flamethrower we see in the Nemesis trailer), making him a threat that can harm you from distance.
During our hands-on time with the Resident Evil 3 Remake, we determined that Nemesis was just as terrifying as ever, perhaps even more terrifying than RE2's Mr. X.
"Nemesis not only pursues and hunts you down (while spouting his ‘Stttaaaaaaarrrs' catchphrase), but has the ability wield weapons, air drop out of nowhere, and - perhaps most terrifyingly - sprint towards you at full pace like a rhino with a deathwish," said IGN's Senior Video Editor Dale Driver.
For more on Nemisis be sure to check out the rest of our Resident Evil 3 preview.
Resident Evil 2 Remake Achievement Links to RE3
A new achievement called Chasing Jill was added to Resident Evil 2 Remake. The description for this achievement reads, "Read a letter left behind by Jill", hinting at an in-game link to Resident Evil 3.Where Can I Pre-Order the Resident Evil 3 Remake?
Resident Evil 3 Remake pre-orders are currently available at a variety of retailers including GameStop, Best Buy, the PlayStation Store. If you Pre-order, you'll get the Resident Evil 3 Classic Costume Pack which features Jill's and Carlos' classic outfits from the original game.We encourage you to check out our Resident Evil 3 pre-order guide for more details.
What Does the Resident Evil 3 Remake Collector’s Edition Come With?
Available exclusively at GameStop, the Resident Evil 3 Collector’s Edition includes:
- Resident Evil 3 game
- Jill Valentine figurine
- Double-sided Raccoon City poster
- Project: N and Project: R art book
- Voucher for Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil Resistance soundtracks
When Does Resident Evil 3 Remake Come Out?
The release date for Resident Evil 3 is April 3, 2020. It will be available for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.What are you most excited for in the RE3 remake? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to catch up on everything you may have missed in the excellent Resident Evil 2 remake, which was a runner-up for our Game of the Year award.